Help! DD hates A levels, are apprenticeships an option? Or what else?

[TabbyStar]

DD is in year 12 at sixth form, and although she did well at GCSEs, she isn't very "academic" and feels her A levels (social sciences / humanities) are pointless, she's struggling with essays, and getting quite distressed. She had similar issues with revision for GCSEs and I tend to agree with her that just battling through isn't good for her mental health at the moment.

She has had a customer-facing job for a year, and really enjoys it and gets on well there, so she really just wants to work, we've looked into the possibility of an apprenticeship, but there seems to have been bad press about some of them, so I'm not sure whether these would benefit her any more than just getting a job and perhaps spending some time volunteering. She does have some employment options.

We've considered going to college to do a BTEC next year, though she's not keen to drop down a year or to do more classroom based learning. Other possibility is just to do an access to HE course at some point in the future if she does need a qualification to go to uni. If she went to uni she'd do something vocational.

Anyone else been in this situation? Or have any suggestions about what we could consider? We're going to make some phone calls next week but it's a bit bewildering! TIA.

One of mine new what to do. One had no clue, wanted an easy life etc.
So we planned out , what's her aim would she like to live alone, when, where, how much will it cost. So therefore what kind of job will bring in that salary.
Does she need a degree for that salary or will a job plus night school work just as well.
Would she like admin, or talking to people etc.
Our local council had a great young people's career service which helped focus her.

Argh knew

I would look for an apprenticeship. what kind of job would she like to do? you would be looking at an Advanced Level 3 one, which is the same level as a levels, and after she has completed that she could go on to do a level 4 one, which is the equivalent of a foundation degree.

oh, and it might be worth getting her to call the national careers advice line tomorrow (its open 8am-10pm) on 0800 100 900 as they are there specifically to give advice on situations like these x

She needs to think about what she is aiming for. Does she have any clue? If she hasn't got a specific plan as yet but is in England and has told do this 'education or training' until 18 thing maybe just look at doing a handful more GCSEs at a local college - subjects that she didn't get to do at school and maybe more creative ones if she isn't into essays and all that.

Thanks for the replies. She'd maybe like to do something in hospitality or events management, she has some work experience and we have friends and relatives in the business.

The apprenticeships I can see now searching near us are a bit uninspiring, but I'm not sure whether these tend to be cyclical and we'll see more coming up as the year 11s are starting to look for things.

I know kids are theoretically supposed to be in education or training until 18, but not sure how this is enforced in any way or what it means if she isn't (other than losing child benefit!) Doing some part time study of something that would be of more interest to her is a good idea, but I feel she'd benefit from a bit of work experience and some volunteering (have specific possibilities in mind) to broaden her horizons at this stage.

I feel torn - I'm the first person in our family to go to university and I've always taken education seriously, but on the other hand she's so unhappy and we have friends and family who have few qualifications and are doing much better than me salary-wise!

From what I have heard teens who 'drop out' from these two extra years there generally isn't any follow up from the authorities or anything. If you know people who are willing to give her a job then I would go for the job. Just make sure she is paid the proper wage (for her age if minimum wage) rather than apprenticeship wage because that's just a feeble amount. Unless it's an official apprenticeship - that means time spend in college working towards an official qualification (ie city and guilds, btec etc). She won't be able to have more than a combined amount of work and study of 40 hours. She can't work 40 hours plus college time. That's how you will know it's an official apprenticeship.

Try and find a BTEC LEVEL 3 in travl and tourism. She could even go on to uni after.

Apprenticeships tend to recruit year round. Some hospitality employers will hire you as a full time member of staff (aka not apprentice wage) and you can study for your qualification on the side. I would say, with the apprenticeship levy, it would be best to go for larger companies (if you're looking hospitality then places such as Greene King, Whitbread or even McDonalds) as they have a certain amount each month they need to pay out for apprenticeships or it is taken like a tax. That may be why you are struggling to find good courses.

In my opinion apprenticeships are great because they teach skills and are often on a more 1-1 basis with a tutor who can adapt their techniques to suit learning styles, so if your DD doesn't get on with a classroom environment, this would massively benefit.

Also with regards to what PP said, it may be hard to go straight into a L3 apprenticeship nowadays as the criteria is often stricter in terms of responsibilities, experience etc but you can do a L2 in a year and then L3 in 15 months.

I think if we can find a suitable apprenticeship for her that would be a great option, she has a year's work experience with a reasonable level of responsibility already, and mostly 7s, 8s and 9s in her GCSEs, so hopefully at level 3. Otherwise just working for the moment whilst she works out what next would also be fine. She's worried she's "letting everyone down", but she had her doubts about A levels before her GCSEs, and at least she's given them a go. We'll see whether the college comes up with any other ideas next week before making a final decision. I'll just be happy if she's not so miserable and stressed!

Apprenticeships are a great idea. Our youngest is getting through A levels. Her choice not to give up and go to college or get a job. Only rule was she can’t sit on her arse.

She’s applied for unis but still not sure and also applying for apprenticeships.

Too many kids end up a uni rather than choose the best route.

As for BTEC in Travel and Tourism - speak from personal experience just don’t. Do business or something.

I suspect DD would attracted to uni because of the partying rather than the learning, and I'm not minded to fund her for that...!

I think a classroom BTEC is out, but if she were to do one it wouldn't be travel and tourism as she's not interested in overseas stuff, more events in the UK.

She's interested in some volunteering too though, which may mean she changes direction completely. I think it's so difficult for the kids that have no idea what they want to do.

I can't imagine there's a high level apprenticeship for event planning. A business BTEC would be better.

There is a level 3 BTEC in principles of event management but not an extended one. I wonder whether she's better off working and then just doing some relevant professional short courses though.

Seems a shame for her to have such high gcse results and stop there tbh.

Sorry pressed too soon. Can't she be nursed through her A levels? What is she studying?

There is no penalty at all for not being in FT learning for yrs 12/13 other than losing any benefits/chb. I work in this area so can confirm this.
I would suggest speak to the 6th form staff but if she is miserable and hates it then leave. She could work, she could look for Apprenticeships and she could apply and look at college courses for sept 2020.

A levels are not for everyone

Seems a shame for her to have such high gcse results and stop there tbh.

Yeah she had her doubts, but we thought we'd give it a go for exactly that reason, but she's so very unhappy, missing a lot of classes and the amount of support I'm having to give her is unsustainable. If she goes on to uni it would be to do something more vocational, which she could get onto with an access course. She loves working, of course she may find working more hours isn't great either, in which case the option to go back and restart her A levels will still be there. She has a strong social conscience too, and some volunteering could also lead her in a different direction I think.

Thanks smartie I was pretty sure that was the case but good to have confirmation!

If she was mine I'd make her stay until the end of year 12. There would be penalties for missing classes. I'd increase her allowance if she kept up with things. Then I'd let her leave at the end if year 12 if it was still hideous.

Dd1 HATED her first year of A levels and ended up doing BTECS for 2 years (so year 13 and 14) and a more vocational A level. She's now at uni, working part time and loving it.

I would avoid general admin/customer service type apprenticeships. I've seen quite a few advertised in our area for marketing/digital marketing this would be transferable across industries so she could work for a charity/ hotel chain etc?

I know kids are theoretically supposed to be in education or training until 18 but they can work from 16. If A levels aren't for her then they aren't for her. It is the NEET thing, which is not in Employment, Education or Training.

As she knows what direction she wants her life to take then find an apprenticeship or go directly into working in that field. There are huge recruitment fairs all across the country for apprenticeships.

Re restarting her A levels, you definitely need to speak to her college. It is all down to funding and what they are prepared to offer her should she choose to leave now.

Have a look at the BA Hons in Creative Event Management at Falmouth University. So tempting I wish I was 18 again! Might it be a qualification she was tempted to work towards? Might be worth exploring....and talking to them in more detail than they give about routes onto the course.

I couldn't find a single decent apprenticeship for dd when we were in your position. Either great ones that required 3 As at A level, or shite 16+ ones in hairdressers.

Volunteering is nice but presumably she'll need to actually earn money at some point?

Could you ask the school about entering AS levels for the course she's currently doing? If this is possible then get her to stay and have a go in June. She could then go to do a Btec level 3 programme, the one year Cert which will also attract UCAS points. As long as she's happy to go to a HEI that accepts points or A level grades only she would then have a choice of a job in the sector or progression to HE.